Final Project Presentation: Invisible Children

Invisible Children is the idea of three other people, but it is my proposal to take it to the next level here at Ramapo College of New Jersey. The idea, though developed in other places, is falling short here at our school and so I feel it our job to help educate eachother.

Mission of Invisible Children:
“Invisible Children uses film, creativity, and social action to end the use of child soldiers in Joseph Koney’s rebel war and restore Northern Uganda to peace and prosperity. Invisible Children addresses the need for access to education and economic development through innovative programs.”

The War in Uganda:
For the past 23 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GoU) have been at war leaving nearly two million innocent civilians caught in the middle. The LRA rebel movement is traced back to a woman named Alice Lakwena. In the 1980’s, Lakwena believed that Holy Spirit spoke to her and ordered her to bring down the Ugandan government for being unfair to the Acholi, an ethnic group in Uganda. Lakwena and her followers, known as the Holy Spirit Movement, gained force as anger toward the government grew. When Lakwena was deported and no leader remained, Joseph Kony took control and transformed Lakwena’s rebel army into the LRA, and have been terrorizing Uganda ever since.

Who are the Invisible Children?
Kony’s LRA did not receive the same support as the Holy Spirit Movement. With dwindling approval for their cause and heightened government offensives, the rebels resorted to abducting children and essentially forcing them into slavery as soldiers. This originally caused the children to night commute, or walk miles nightly to avoid these troops and keep their freedom. Children leave their homes at night and they sleep together in community centers in order to not be abducted by the LRA. It is estimated that 90% of the LRA are abducted children.

How They Started:
In the spring of 2003, three filmmakers, Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole, traveled to Africa. Initially they planned on going to Sudan, but the LRA shot out the truck that was taking them. They were forced to turn around and wound up stranded in Northern Uganda where they witnesses children sleeping in the street and uncovered a story that both appalled and moved them into action. This experience inspired their first film, Invisible Children, and the creation of the organization.

Schools For Schools:
The Schools for Schools program’s goal is to raise the values of secondary education in northern Uganda. This project encourages academic excellence not only within students, but also, excellence within their schools.

Types of Media:
Posters
Campus Radio/TV
Classroom/Dormroom Handouts
Powerpoint presentations given in the classrooms

C – character: Students of Ramapo College of New Jersey
L – location: Ramapo College of New Jersey
O – objects: Educational videos & Invisible Children Merchandise
S – situation: Helping educate and inform to insight a movement for change
A – act: Create awareness about an important world issue
T – time: Present day

Though Invisible Children might be on our campus already, there isn't enough support. If our school put a bigger effort into the program it could grow to reach other schools in New Jersey.